September 2024 | Subscribe here to receive updates about Improve Your Tomorrow
Having spent over a decade serving thousands of young men of color across school districts in California, Improve Your Tomorrow (IYT) will be welcoming its first cohort of college-bound brothers in Maryland starting this Fall. IYT will be launching College Academy, a 7-12th program that provides mentorship, college advising, member development, and academic support, as well as takes members on college trips, all at no cost to students. College Academy will begin programming at SEED School of Maryland, where it will serve 50 students. This vital step was made possible thanks to the leadership at the SEED school of Maryland and the Maryland Governor's Office on Service & Volunteerism, which supports our AmeriCorps program.
Just as IYT's original program in Sacramento thrives under the stewardship of devoted community leaders with well-established connections, Maryland’s inaugural team will be led by long time non-profit leader and youth champion, Karleton Thomas.
Prior to this role, Karleton served as the Executive Director for BUILD DC, where he led the organization's mission to use entrepreneurship to ignite the potential of youth from under-resourced communities and propel them to high school, college, and career success. His leadership at BUILD significantly impacted the lives of countless young people, equipping them with the skills and mindset needed for future success. Karleton was also Director of Entrepreneurship at the Greater Washington Urban League, where he developed initiatives to support aspiring entrepreneurs and foster economic empowerment within the local community.
In addition to helping young men of color in his community thrive, Karleton is also the driving force behind Revival, a social enterprise focused on the development and preservation of affordable housing in the DC area. Through Revival, he has helped stabilize communities and drive economic growth by providing sustainable housing solutions.
Jamal Turner, Director of the Nolita Project, Baltimore Maryland shared his confidence in the appointment, stating “Karleton has been an incredible asset to youth and families across Maryland. His skill in navigating complex systems to ensure families have access to the resources they need, his ability to bring together diverse groups of stakeholders, and his collaboration with state leaders have all been essential to his success. He’s the kind of leader who knows how to get things done and bring people together for the common good.”
"At IYT, we are all about creating transformative opportunities for young men of color, and I’m thrilled to bring that mission to Maryland,” said Karleton Thomas. “Our focus is on empowering students, not just to reach college, but to thrive there and beyond. By providing mentorship, academic support, and college exposure, we are laying the foundation for their long-term success. I’m honored to lead this effort and look forward to working with our community partners to ensure that every young man we serve has the tools to unlock his full potential.”
Stay tuned for more exciting updates as IYT Maryland launches this fall under Karleton Thomas’ leadership. From mentorship opportunities to college readiness events, there’s so much in store for our first cohort of young men at the SEED School of Maryland. Don’t miss a moment of this journey—subscribe below to receive the latest news, program updates, and ways you can support our mission to empower young men of color in Maryland!
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